ARTICLES ABOUT NAPOLI BY DATE - PAGE 3

ROME, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Napoli kept their hopes of a first Serie A title since 1990 alive with an epic 4-2 win over 10-man Inter Milan on Sunday. Goals from Gonzalo Higuain, Dries Mertens, Blerim Dzemaili and Jose Callejon saw Rafael Benitez beat his old club in a hugely entertaining contest and go eight points behind leaders Juventus. Juve had briefly gone 11 points clear of third-placed Napoli after a Carlos Tevez hat-trick inspired a 4-0 beating of Sassuolo, their eighth win in a row without conceding a goal.

Dec 12 (Reuters) - Juventus and Napoli will both be nursing throbbing Champions League hangovers when they resume their Serie A campaigns at the weekend, although Rafael Benitez's side might find it easier to pick themselves up. Third-placed Napoli clearly gained heart from beating Arsenal 2-0 on Wednesday and winning their fourth match out of six in Group F which also featured last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund and former champions Olympique...

* Dortmund sneak into knockout stage * Arsenal through, Napoli out * Galatasaray, Schalke 04 and Zenit progress * Milan only Italian team in last 16 * Neymar hat-trick as Barca hit six By Justin Palmer LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund were spared a Champions League exit when a dramatic late goal from Kevin Grosskreutz sent the German side into the last 16 on Wednesday. Dortmund, who beat Olympique Marseille 2-1, Arsenal and Napoli all finished on 12 points with the Bundesliga team topping Group F and the Italians proving the odd side out on head-to-head superiority despite a 2-0 victory over the English Premier League leaders.

Dec 11 (Reuters) - Arsenal were caught between two stools against Napoli on Wednesday, manager Arsene Wenger admitted after his side staggered into the last 16 after a 2-0 defeat in Italy. Arsenal needed to avoid a heavy loss to qualify but Wenger suggested they were unsure of whether to sit back or try to grab a goal. "The most difficult is when you are in between - do we attack or defend?" Wenger told reporters. "As long as we didn't score, they had hope. Maybe what helped was that Dortmund were drawing 1-1 and maybe they put the handbrake on, that's why we didn't get too much pressure in the end. " Napoli were heading for the knockout stages when they led 1-0 and Dortmund were drawing 1-1 with Olympique Marseille.

Dec 11 (Reuters) - Napoli were robbed of a place in the Champions League last 16 despite beating Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-0 at a half-empty San Paolo on Wednesday. Gonzalo Higuain scored the first for Napoli in the 73rd minute as the hosts came to life after a dismal opening hour which Arsenal controlled without looking like scoring. Jose Callejon scored in injury time for Napoli but it was not enough. Borussia Dortmund's 87th-minute goal to beat Marseille 2-1 meant all three teams finished on 12 points in Group F but Napoli missed out. It was the 14th season in a row that Arsenal, who had captain Mikel Arteta sent off for a second bookable offence in the 75th minute, have reached the last 16. (Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; Editing by Robert Woodward)